The purposes of this
study were to examine (a) physical activity participation levels, (b) exercise
stages of change levels and (c) physical activity preferences of the Middle East Technical University
undergraduate students with respect to gender, residence and faculty.
Participants were 953 students from 5 different faculties (496 male, and 547
female). For the data collection, International Physical Activity Questionnaire
(IPAQ), Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire, and Physical Activity
Preferences Questionnaire were used. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean,
median, percentage), and nonparametric statistical methods (Mann Whitney U
test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson chi-square test) were used for the data
analysis. According to the IPAQ, male students were more physically active than
female counterparts. Students who were living in campus had higher physical
activity levels, and faculty of architecture students were more sedentary
compared to other faculty students (p <0.05).
In general, 24.8% of the students were physically active, 59.9% of the students
were moderately active, and 15.3% of them were inactive. The results on
exercise stages of change revealed that male students were at upper stages as
compared to the female students. Faculty of architecture students were at lower
stages compared to the other faculty students (p <0.05). There was no
significant differences on the stages of students who were living in and out of
the campus (p >0.05). In general, students at pre-contemplation,
contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance stages were 15.2%, 31.4%,
25.3%, 7.5%, and 20.6% respectively. Swimming (59.2%), walking (56.7%), cycling
(36.2%) and football (30.4%) were the most frequently preferred physical
activities. Dancing and tennis were preferred more with the female students
while football and basketball preferred more with the male students. Physical
activity preferences of students living in and out of campus were similar. In
conclusion, female students, students living out of the campus and students of faculty
of architecture were more at risk. Approximately 75% of the METU undergraduate students’
physical activity levels were not satisfactory for a healthy life. University physical activity facilities,
extracurricular programs and the courses should be reconsidered based on the
findings of this study.
